Odisha’s CRUT to Introduce Three Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses, Expands Urban Mobility Initiatives

Bhubaneswar – In a significant move towards promoting green and sustainable urban transportation, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) will soon introduce three hydrogen fuel cell buses, marking a major step in the state’s clean energy transition.

The deployment of these eco-friendly buses is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between CRUT, GRIDCO, and NTPC. Currently, CRUT operates a robust fleet of 560 “Mo Bus” vehicles, comprising 380 diesel and 180 electric buses, serving 106 routes across the Capital Region, Rourkela, Berhampur, and Sambalpur. This network provides reliable urban mobility to lakhs of daily commuters.

Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra reviewed the state’s ongoing urban mobility projects on Thursday, focusing on infrastructure enhancement, expansion into eight new towns, and various digital initiatives aimed at improving service efficiency.

Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, Managing Director of CRUT, shared plans for city bus services in the first phase across Keonjhar, Baripada, Angul, and Jharsuguda, highlighting the agency’s commitment to expanding public transport coverage.

The Minister also underscored the need to curb ticketless travel, which leads to significant revenue losses. He proposed implementing Key Performance Indicator (KPI)-based incentives for bus crew members, linked to commuter feedback, to boost service quality and staff motivation.

In terms of digital transformation, Dr. Mahapatra emphasized the importance of increasing digital transactions, setting a target to achieve 50 percent digital adoption by year-end. Among the key technological upgrades discussed were the expansion of the Digital Pass system to more cities, introduction of the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for seamless travel, ticket booking via WhatsApp, and installation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on all buses to enhance safety and operational efficiency.

These initiatives reflect Odisha’s focus on sustainable, technology-driven urban transport solutions designed to benefit commuters and contribute to the state’s environmental goals.